MERRILLVILLE – Music is the language of love, so it is only natural that music should surround those who express their love for God through their faith. Sacred music is integral to worship in the Catholic Church, and the Diocese of Gary now has a familiar voice to lead the faithful.
David Herr, a Schererville native who has served in music ministry since his college graduation 15 years ago, has been appointed the first ministry coordinator of sacred music with the diocesan Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization team.
“Music provides spiritual growth and spiritual healing, and by helping the faithful better encounter Christ through music, they will experience and pass that on to others in their community. That will lead to them making new disciples, which is what evangelization is all about,” explained Herr.
Continuing to work as the assistant to Father Martin Dobrzynski, director of the diocesan Office of Worship, Herr will still help plan and prepare all diocesan liturgies, training and renewal conferences and RCIA workshops, but will now be moving out into the parishes with other members of the missionary discipleship team to offer guidance and enhance their ministry experience.
“David helps parishes develop music ministries in parishes that are focused on evangelization and discipleship. His approach ensures that music serves the liturgy and inspires people to live out their faith beyond the church walls,” explained Father Declan McNicholas, director of Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization for the diocese.
“I’ll be joining my colleagues on the team as we spread out into specific parishes to help them with evangelization efforts,” explained Herr. That includes guidance in youth, hospitality, catechesis, intercultural and marriage and family life ministries, as well as music.
As an example, Herr said a visit is being scheduled for Holy Spirit in Winfield and St. Helen in Hebron, partner parishes. “We’ll meet with ministry contact people and pastor Father Thomas Mischler, and maybe attend a Sunday liturgy, too,” said Herr. “We will focus on what has been working for them, and what has not, and what they can learn and improve on.
“In the case of music, we’ll offer advice and resources on how to improve their music ministry and could even provide workshops. Long-term, we may even offer some training programs across the diocese,” added Herr.
“David will help make sure sacred music serves as a tool for evangelization, drawing people into deeper encounters with Christ,” added Father McNicholas, also director of the Lay Ecclesial Ministry program and associate pastor at St. John the Evangelist in St. John. “By integrating beauty and tradition, David will help music inspire faith and invite people to engage with the Church’s mission. As St. Augustine said, ‘Those who sing, pray twice.’”
To help him advise parish music directors, cantors, choirs and clergy, Herr has created “a team of the most talented musical directors in the diocese to pursue the best resources and strategies for improvement,” including Alison Powell of St. John the Evangelist; Tina O’Drobinak, cantor for diocesan liturgies and liturgy planner; Anthony Holt, new music director at Queen of All Saints; Karin Jurek of St. Maria Goretti; and John Cox of Nativity of Our Savior, along with two newly-ordained deacons, Robert Gromala, who is passionate about integrating sacred music in liturgy, and Albert Burgos, who has a strong background in praise worship and Hispanic music, noted Herr.
“We are still working out our roles, but we’re not going to be telling parishes to change or toss out their styles; we all pray differently,” Herr said. “We want to show them how to capitalize on what is working and supplement that with additional ideas that will help them strengthen their music.
“We want our parishes to be joyfully creative, but they all have their own style, so we have to be creative in our approach and hope it creates more joy,” Herr said.
Herr already has a wealth of experience within the Diocese of Gary. He graduated from St. Michael School in Schererville and Andrean High School in Merrillville (2005) before heading to Wabash College in Crawfordsville, where he graduated in 2009 with a bachelor’s degree in Political Science and Music, later adding a master’s in Public Affairs from Indiana University Northwest in Gary.
He started with the diocese as the accompanist at St. James the Less in Highland in 2009 through 2015, adding the position of choir director at Bishop Noll Institute in Hammond in 2012, where he served for seven years. “I still help them out with all-school Masses and theater shows; the current theater director, Nora Wragg, was one of my best students and I couldn’t be more thrilled to work with her,” said Herr.
In 2015, Herr added the position of executive secretary to the diocesan Office of Worship headed by Father Dobrzynski, later promoted to assistant to the director. At the same time, Herr became musical director at St. Irenaeus in Park Forest, Ill. (closed in 2022), until taking the position at St. Edward in 2018. With his new responsibilities, Herr has resigned as music director at St. Edward after 6-1/2 years.
“I always wanted to work at the diocesan level, and I’ve always had multiple positions,” Herr said.
In addition to his new responsibilities with the Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization team, Herr has been named by Bishop Robert J. McClory to serve as music director/accompanist for the Cathedral of the Holy Angels, serving the 11 a.m. Mass in Gary every Sunday. Dave Vicari, former music director at the cathedral, will move to SS. Monica and Luke in Gary, which has a vibrant music ministry.
“Music deepens the worship experience, leading the congregation to encounter God more fully,” said Father McNicholas. “It strengthens faith by moving hearts and inspiring a sense of mission, reminding the faithful of their role as disciples.”
Any parish interested in consulting with Herr and his music ministry team is welcome to contact him at dherr@dcgary.org or 769-9292, ext. 88226.
Caption: David Herr, who has served in a variety of roles for the Diocese of Gary since graduating from college in 2009, joins cantor Ashley Cairo, of St. John, to lead the music at the diocese's Eucharistic Liturgy in Thanksgiving for Women Religious on Oct. 16 at St. Michael the Archangel in Schererville. He was recently appointed sacred music coordinator for the diocesan Missionary Discipleship and Evangelization team, where he will help parishes improve their liturgical music ministry, in addition to continuing his roles for the diocesan liturgies.. (Provided photo)